Pastor's Note, February 18, 2018

confirmed, and receive Eucharist for the first time at the Easter Vigil. Lent as a time of ongoing conversion for fully initiated members of the church developed over some years. One of the reforms of Vatican Council II was to restore this original aspect of Lent as part of the Rite of Christian Initiation. Adults and children of catechetical ages (7 years and older) celebrate some final rites as part of their getting ready for the Sacraments of Initiation at the East Vigil. Next Sunday, February 25, they will celebrate the Rite of Election at the Cathedral in Lafayette with Bishop Doherty. After this "Rite of Election" these people are referred to as "The Elect" because they have been "elected" or "chosen" to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. During the Mass at 10 a.m. that day we will have a Rite of Sending them to the Rite of Election. On the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent they will undergo the Scrutinies. These scrutinies are a form of exorcism. When people hear the word "exorcism" it often conjures up weird Hollywood images. In reality an exocism is simply a ritual of the Church celebrating that the power of Christ is greater than the power of Evil. We will celebrate the First Scrutiny on the Third Sunday of Lent during Mass at 10 a.m. During the Mass at 12:30 p.m. on the Fourth Sunday of Lent we will celebrate the Second Scrutiny and the Third Scrutiny will be celebrated during the Mass at 5 p.m. on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Since the earliest days of the Church these scrutinies have been associated with Gospel passages from the Gospel of St. John, therefore during the Masses when we are doing the scrutinies we will hear the Scripture passages from Year "A" and during the other Masses we will listen to the Year "B" passages. Finally, let me encourage everyone to pray for our Elect as they prepare for the great Easter Vigil: Tricia Couch, Ziare Ficklin, Rudy Lopez, Zander Martinez and Zavaon Martinez.